Fixture



June 2l, 1938. E, F, GUTH 2,121,430

' FIXTURE Filed May 22, 1936 satenteci `uine 17938 cm1-'Ensures FIXTURE Y dWinF. Guth, Webster Groves,` Moi vApplicationMay 22, 1936, SerialNo. 81,262 1. claim. (o1. 24o- 78) y "This invention relates to fixtures, and with relrgard to certain `more specic features, to'elec- 'trical illuminating fixtures -Among the several objects of the invention 5 may be noted the provision of an electrical illuminating xture which is adapted to provide both direct and indirect illumination; the'- provision of a fixture of the class described inwhich the direct illumination is confined and controlled jm in direction and intensity, to a desired degree; the provision of a fixture of the class described wherein the direct illumination is formed yenti-rely of approximately parallel rays; the provision of an electrical illuminating xture of the class dej scribed which is designed to provide ideal ili lumination for particular conditions, such as desk lighting; and the provision of an electrical illuminating xture of the class described which is relatively simple and economical in construc- 20 tion. Other objects will be in part obvious'and in part pointed out hereinafter.

.The invention accordingly'comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claim.

In the accompanying drawing, in which are illustrated several of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fixture embodying the present invention;

Fig. V2 is aV vertical section of the fixture of IFig. 1;

Q Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the fixture of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 2, illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention. A

,40 Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing,

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1,

there is shown a fixture embodying the present wires or the like 6,*from the lower end of cap 4, is the fixture assembly comprising one ofthe "princip-alfeatures ofthe present invention. The. assembly includes a reflector bowl 1, which is4 usually of truncated conical type, and which 5 faces upwardly. The lower end ofthe bowl 'I is extended as a cylindrical portion 8, which may `be provided with a series of ridges or set-back portions for the decorative effect obtained. The metal at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 10 8 is bent inwardly and somewhat back uponiit-` self to provide a flange 9. Resting on the edge -are preferably welded or soldered or otherwise secured together, in such manner that a space i is Yprovided therebetween for receiving the an-"20 choring ends of the wires 6, so that said anchorl ing ends are not visible from the exterior of the fixture. The `ilxture assembly is directly supported, it will be seen, by the engagement of the wires 6 with the flange IU. 25

Numerals I3 and I4 indicate short cylinders of thin material, such as sheet metal, thatare supported on radially disposed bolts or the like I5, which are mounted on the outer cylinder II. The number of cylinders such as I3 and I4 that 30 are provided depends upon the type of direct light that it is desired to obtain from the fixture. For the majority of circumstances, the two cylinders I3 and I4, as shown, are usually suiiicient.

The inner surface of the bowl 1 is usually sil- 55 Vered or painted to provide a highly reecting surface. The bowl 'I reflects light from the bulb 5 upwardly from thev fixture, ordinarily against the ceiling of the room, when it is reflected to the interior of the room providing an indirect 40 light component. At the same time, direct light is able to pass from the bulb 5 downwardly through the circular regions between the cylinders II, I3 and I4, providing a component of direct illumination. The cylinders I3 and I4, and 45 the inner surface of cylinder I I, are ordinarily painted dead black, so that they reflect substantially no light. For this reason, they permit substantially only light rays closely approximately parallel vertical rays to pass therethrough. The cylinders Il, I3 and I4, it will be seen, comprise light-regulating louvres.

In a preferred form of the invention, the flanges 9 and IIJ are provided with peripherally spaced light ports or openings II (see Fig. 1), through 55 which a small portion of direct and reflected light from the bulb can pass. Such light illuminates the exterior surface of the outermost louvre Il, to give the fixture an attractive appearance. Some of this light further reflects from the inner face of flange l2 upwardly in order to illuminate the under surface of bowl 1, likewise for' the sake of appearance. Some such reflection takes place even when the louvre Il is painted dead black.

While the shape of the direct-light regulating louvres 'has been shown as circular, it will be apparent that this is not altogether necessary. For example, the louvres may be made in any form or shape, in order to obtain whatever shaped region of direct illumination is required.

I'he combination of indirect light reflected from the ceiling of the room and direct light issuing from the louvres of the fixture of the'present invention make the fixture ideally suited for such purposes as desk illumination. Forv such illumination, it is ordinarily 'desirablethat a rela- ,tively high intensity of indirect light be `provided withinthe room containing the desk,-but thatan even higher lighting intensity, be providedv on the working surface of the desk. `If the fixture of the present invention is 4located vertically above the desk, it will readily be seen that the direct illumination-from the fixture is `provided on the working top of the desk, while the indirect illumination from the ceiling provides the necessary lighting intensity in other portions Aof the` room.

`The louvre system of controlling the ldirect illu- Vmination isl highly satisfactory, as it can be made, at a minimum cost of parts, to provide a `welldirected, direct illumination that is Yconiined'to al limited area. f Further, with-theV fixture as-thus described, lsubstantially all parts 'l are made from sheet metal, which is most-economical to handle and to finish in pleasing designs and colors.

Fig.l 4 shows an alternative embodiment ofthe invention'- which'differs from the embodiment already described only in that a bowl-shaped refiector` I6 is provided around the neck of the-bulb 5. YThe bowl reflector I6 is ordinarily securedto the bottom edge of the cap 4. It is directed downwardly, so that the rays from the bulb 5 that normally would travel upwardly are at least in part reiiected back downwardly toward the direct lighting louvres. Lighting for indirect illumination purposes then escapes from the fixture only between the outer edge of the bowl I6 andthe outer edge of the bowl l, and is somewhat reduced in volume, while at the same time, the volume of direct lighting, by reason of the directing eiTect of the reflector I6, is proportionately increased.

`The embodiment of Fig. 4 has the added advantage of being capable, by suitable design, of being made vertically thinner than the prior embodiment, because the angle of the bowl 1 need not be so steep.

In View of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

-As manychanges could be made in carrying out the aboveconstructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended rvthat all matter contained in the above description or shownin the accompanying drawing shall Ybe interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting 4mination,and louvre means at the base of said vbowl, said louvre means being adapted to provide for direct illumination from said light source,

Vsaid louvre means comprising a series of concentric iigures formed of sheet-like material, and

.light portsat the base of said bowl providing for exterior Villumination of the outermost louvre,

, said outermost louvre being provided with an outwardly extending flange adapted to reiiect light,

from the light ports to illuminate the under surface of said bowl.

EDWIN F. GUTH. 

